Aussie NFL lineman Daniel Faalele faces mounting pressure amid avalanche of criticism

Most children in Australia grow up wishing to be a professional athlete.

And while the lures of money, playing a child's game for a living, and everything in between can be enticing, the drawbacks aren't too pleasant.

Unfortunately, Australian Daniel Faalele has learnt as much in his relatively short time in the NFL, and you can't help but feel for him.

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The Ravens' right guard has copped it all season from fans and pundits, who have endlessly pointed out his miscues on social media, leading to an avalanche of criticism.

While some of the comments have been extreme and personal, there have been moments when Faalele has missed assignments, and the commentary is justified.

During the Ravens' week 14 loss to arch-rivals the Steelers, it was reported that the Aussie was involved in a heated exchange on the sidelines with superstar QB Lamar Jackson, after he threw an interception.

"Lamar threw his helmet, he then had a talk with Daniel Faalele, who said 'They know it's coming every time' and then Zay Flowers came over as well and added to the discussion," CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson reported.

There was reportedly a crowd of reporters waiting by Faalele's locker after the Steelers game, but media can't talk to players before they are fully dressed, per NFL rules.

According to the Baltimore Banner, a shirtless Faalele took his shirt in his hand and nodded to reporters before walking off and not returning for questions.

The report led to more disapproval as Ravens great and NFL Hall-of-Famer Shannon Sharpe tore shreds off Faalele, with his comments reverberating around the US sports world.

"You gotta be as gracious in defeat as you are in victory. ... Short of him saying 'I sucked today' I ain't wanna hear nothing he has to say," he said.

"You gotta talk in defeat just like you would in victory. That's what makes us pros. We don't hide. We don't run. We don't tuck our tails when things don't go our way."

He added: "You shouldn't be allowed to be that big and that sorry. He can't block the sun out of his eyes, let alone a defensive lineman or a blitzer coming.

"As bad as he's been playing this entire season, how bad must his backup be? If the backup [is] that bad, he ain't even a high school player.

"If he's the solution, what's the problem? If he's the answer, what's the question? It's hard for me to believe that there are linemen worse than what he is. I refuse to believe that."

The scathing comments were a drop in the ocean compared to the reaction on social media, and it would not be surprising if the team and its officials checked in on the big man ahead of Monday's game against the Bengals.

Faalele has been the figurehead for criticism levelled at the offensive line, but the unit as a whole has not played well this year.

Speaking after practice on Friday, Jackson said that he was aware of the report about the clash with the Aussie but declared he hadn't said anything to Faalele, nor had Faalele said anything to him.

"I don't know where that came from," Jackson added. "It wasn't me. It wasn't Faalele, so I don't know."

All eyes will be on the Australian on Monday morning AEDT as the Ravens battle to make the playoffs amid a dip in form this year.